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Living Mulches and Cover Crops

Living Mulches are a vegetative cover sown within and between crops. Living Mulches can be sown into vegetable garden plots.

They will cover the soil without competing with crops for water and nutrients. Living Mulches add organic material into the soil without disturbing it. They can add nutrients to the soil, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium, and micronutrients, Living mulches can also inhibit pests depending on how they are managed and what plants they are being grown with.

Cover Crops are plants grown either with, before, or after the main vegetable crop. Cover crops are a great tool for managing many species of weeds. A vigorous, fast growing cover crop competes with weeds, for light, space, nutrients, and moisture. Be aware that a poorly managed cover crop can result in a weedy mess.

Which one to use?

Annual or Perennial Cover Crop

Annual crops such as Austrian Field Peas will grow quickly providing more nitrogen during growth periodBest if planted in spring

Perennial crops such as Winter Rye should be left for one year and be planted before the end of August

Dutch White Clover

Buck Wheat

Germinates in 3-5 days, cut down within 7 10 days after flowering-Adds phosphorus and calcium to soilProtects late fall plantings of slow starting cropsGood protects soilWait a minimum of 3 weeks once turned into soil for it to decompose before plantingWinter kills

Berseem Clover

Grows 12-24”Mow prior to bloomingRapid germinationUsed for keeping weeds down between rows or during fallow seasonDoes not do well in clay soil Winter KillsYellow flower